Three hottest seats on the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers began 2022 2-6 but turned it around after their bye to finish 9-8. It was an impressive finish for Pittsburgh because it played the majority of the season with rookie QB Kenny Pickett as starter. So there's optimism in the Steel City, but some will face intense scrutiny.
Here are three who sit on the hottest seats for the Steelers:
1. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada
The Steelers made the surprising decision to retain Canada as their offensive coordinator following another season with a struggling offense.
Pittsburgh tied with the Rams as the sixth-worst in points per game (18.1) and only had three plays longer than 40 yards all season, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac.
The 7-2 finish and a desire by the team to have stability for Pickett may have saved Canada's job. The offense has finished 20th or lower in yardage for four straight seasons (two under Canada) for the first time in franchise history.
Canada's contract will expire after the 2023 season, making this a make-or-break season for the 51-year-old coach.
2. WR Diontae Johnson
In 2022, the 26-year-old wideout had 86 catches, his second-worst total in the NFL, and no touchdown receptions, making him perhaps the unluckiest receiver in league history.
Johnson's receiving yardage total was the second worst (882) of his career as well. It wasn't the season he or Pittsburgh envisioned after he signed a two-year, $37 million contract extension last offseason.
3. Head coach Mike Tomlin
It would be a stunner if the Steelers moved on from Tomlin, who completed his 16th consecutive winning season in 2022, the third-best stretch for a coach in NFL history. But some in Pittsburgh media also believe he'll be on the hot seat if the Steelers don't make the playoffs in 2023.
The Steelers last won a playoff game in the 2016 season, and their last Super Bowl appearance came in the 2010 season. Pittsburgh has had only three head coaches since 1969--a remarkable statistic--but fans and the team front office want much better results.
At his end-of-the-season news conference, Steelers president Art Rooney II was noncommittal on giving Tomlin a contract extension.
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